Page 33 - Business Standard Editorial Comment

State debt dynamics: Strict fiscal rules needed to reverse disparities

The RBI's frequent intervention to cap spreads in bond markets of heavily indebted states also leads to market indiscipline

World trade at risk: Trump's drive for reciprocity will undermine trade

Without the MFN principle, investigation into rules of origin might have to be applied to every single shipment

In a tight spot: Sustained stock market correction will test investors

The NSE500 is up just 2.9 per cent and the midcaps have returned a meagre 2.5 per cent return in the same period, while the smallcaps are down 3.3 per cent

New phase in India-US ties: India will have to deal with unpredictability

Mr Modi's visit will have attempted to convey that, unlike the troublesome Europeans, India is a far more congenial partner for an America being remade by a second Trump term

Efficient tax system: A clear income-tax law will help all stakeholders

Although the government has been working on improving the experience of taxpayers, such as with the introduction of the Faceless Assessment Scheme, the new Bill aims to take the process forward

Travel pressures: Commuters bear the cost of inadequate public transport

Though the rising cost of fuel would have undoubtedly accounted for part of the cost burden, inadequate public-transport infrastructure has also imposed costs on households

PLI scheme fuels iPhone exports, but gaps remain in manufacturing

India's PLI scheme, particularly in electronics and smartphones, has proved successful in boosting domestic manufacturing and seamlessly aligning with the country's export ambitions

India's AI strategy: Balancing innovation, risks, and proper governance

The government's intentions in terms of developing compute capacity and its focus on encouraging the proliferation of data centres are in the right direction

Learning to grow: India needs greater investment in higher education

Overall public expenditure on education (Centre plus states) is also woefully short of the National Education Policy target of 6 per cent of GDP

Trump's trade order: India has an early opportunity to present its position

Economics and geopolitics are intertwined, at least in the context of China, and it is in the interests of both the US and India to continue cooperating

Cloud over RE: India's green energy becomes a victim of its own success

Green energy is a victim of its own success

Refocus again: Despite stated policy and disinvestment has slowed

Expectations that the government would increase the speed of strategic disinvestment or privatisation have been dashed

Delhi's next act: BJP should focus on improving governance in the city

The new administration in Delhi will certainly have some challenges it will need to address

RBI's repo rate cut: The global environment will pose risks

The RBI expects the consumer price index-based inflation rate to average 4.2 per cent in 2025-26 - assuming a normal monsoon - compared to the projection of 4.8 per cent this financial year

Political campaigning deadline: The silent period has become redundant

The two-week campaign deadline is in place to address logistical issue, which is to enable ECI personnel to track whether parties or candidates bribing voters

Illegal migration: Govt needs to address all related aspects effectively

The use of a military aircraft was perhaps to show the seriousness of the cause and pictures of handcuffed illegal immigrants will likely please Mr Trump's core constituency

MPC should wait and watch as global risks complicate rate decisions

Global uncertainty demands caution on monetary policy

Trump's Gaza plan exposes ignorance of law, morality, and diplomacy

This announcement disrupts the fragile ceasefire and hostage-release deal of January 19, partly negotiated by Mr Trump's own envoy before he took oath as President

Increasing threshold: Ensuring more people contribute to income tax

The most important question is this: In a country at India's income level, is it right or wise to exempt those earning ₹12 lakh a year from the income-tax net?

Debt management: India must focus on sustained fiscal consolidation

Although public debt has gone up across the world after the pandemic, it is in India's interests to reduce it to a more manageable level